UAE Summons Israeli Envoy Over Qatar Hamas Strike Amid Regional Tensions

The United Arab Emirates has summoned the Israeli deputy ambassador, David Ohad Horsandi, to strongly condemn Israel's airstrike on Hamas leadership in Qatar, calling it a "blatant and cowardly attack" that threatens regional peace and the Gulf Cooperation Council's collective security. The UAE criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hostile rhetoric following the strike and warned that continued provocations could destabilize the region. Qatar, serving as a mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks, has drawn significant regional and international support after the attack, with an emergency summit scheduled in Doha and solidarity expressed by the UN Security Council, including the United States under President Donald Trump. The incident has strained UAE-Israel relations, despite their economic and defense ties under the Abraham Accords, with reports of Israel's ambassador to the UAE being recalled amid diplomatic tensions. The UAE emphasized that any aggression against GCC member states is unacceptable and called for de-escalation, while Israel defended the targeted strike as a necessary action against Hamas officials operating from Qatar. These developments underscore heightened regional sensitivities and the fragile state of Middle East diplomacy following the unprecedented airstrike.